Meaning
to be born; life; raw; student
Chinese: 出生、生长、生命或学生。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “sheng” becomes a different word in each tone. 生 is the 1st tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 先生xiān shengteacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.)
- 学生xué shengstudent; schoolchild
- 医生yī shēngdoctor; medical practitioner
- 生日shēng rìbirthday
- 女生nǚ shēngschoolgirl; female student; girl
More Words
Example Sentence
春天来了，草地上生出新的绿芽。Chūn tiān lái le, cǎo dì shàng shēng chū xīn de lǜ yá.Spring has come, and new green shoots grow from the grass.
春天Chūn tiānspring (season)来láito come了le(completed action)，草地cǎo dìlawn上shàngon生出shēng chūto give birth新xīnnew的deof绿lǜgreen芽yábud。
Memory Note
The old form looked like a plant growing from the ground, which connects naturally with birth and life.
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
A pictograph of a young plant pushing up out of the ground (the line at the base). It means ‘to be born, to grow, life, raw’.
A way to remember it
A sprout rising from the soil — life, growth.
Easy to confuse with
- 牛‘Ox’: a similar frame, but with horns on top, not a sprouting stalk.